10 Hidden Places to Explore in the Middle East
People follow the Middle East as an area of vast deserts, beauty, mystery, and old architecture. However, the potential for tourism is much richer, and there are many places in the world that remain virtually untouched. What’s more, we dig through layers of sand to reveal hidden spots lying within this area of the world. Here are the top secret places to explore in Middle East on your next trip.
Table of Content
1. Farafra Oasis
2. Urfa
3. Dasht-e Kavir
4. Wadi Rum
5. Socotra Island
6. Bani Hamida Weaving Cooperative
7. Al Ain Oasis
8. Taylorboudal Cave Houses
9. Umm Qais
10. Mahra Desert
1. Farafra Oasis, Egypt
One of the attractive hidden places to explore in Middle East is Farafra Oasis. These are a set of isolated oases and falls in the region of Egypt’s Western Desert. It has hot springs, white deserts, and Bedouin people who still live simple nomad lives today. This is a place where Egypt, particularly Cairo, can provide relief from the bound activities of the region.
2. Urfa, Turkey
The city of Urfa is over 8000 years old and is a top pick for hidden places to explore in Middle East. The old bazaar is rather interesting. It has a territory which contains the stone houses and narrow streets. Each of the above-mentioned places is important for Muslims, Christians, and Jews due to its relation with the prophets and saints. The cave where the patriarch Abraham was born, Balıklıgöl sacred fish ponds, and the archaeological museum with relics and artifacts of the Neolithic period can be found here. To learn more about such places, click here.
3. Dasht-e Kavir, Iran
Central Iran is a large desert that covers over 50,000 square kilometres. The landscape of Dasht-e Kavir looks as if it belongs to the moon. Its harsh climate also makes it difficult to cross it. Several oases are interjected throughout to give a brief insight into life within the desert.
4. Wadi Rum, Jordan
The red sand dunes and towering sandstone cliffs of Wadi Rum are quite suitable for photographs that will not change even after a hundred years. Presently, the Bedouin tribes inhabit this place, which is a UNESCO heritage site. They include hiking in the iron-age rock art sites or dune bashing in the 4x4 vehicles.
5. Socotra Island, Yemen
Another off-beat place to visit in Egypt is Socotra Island, Yemen. This island dubbed the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,” has been isolated to give rise to almost 700 endemic plant and animal species. Its exotic Dr. Seuss-like dragon blood trees are unaltered today as they were in prehistoric days. However, due to political instability, it has not become a popular destination for most travelers.
6. Bani Hamida Weaving Cooperative, Jordan
Hidden in the hills above Petra, this women’s cooperative continues the 6000-year-old craft of Bedouin weaving. Tourists are invited into the village homes to observe the beautiful wool rugs and tapestries being woven on the ground looms.
7. Al Ain Oasis, UAE
Certainly, another hidden place to visit in Egypt is Al Ain, which is located near Oman. Seven gardens are nestled in the desert, as they have been for the past 4500 years. Channels supply food to 150,000 date palms.
Tourists can participate in activities such as shaded trekking, camel markets, observing skilled wood carvers, and interacting with locals in true Emirati warmth.
8. Taylorboudal Cave Houses, Yemen
These 12-storey-high scrape-scrapers, located near Sana'a, are as old as 2,500 years. They were cut out of rock surfaces; they could provide shelter to a whole population and may contain homes, storage facilities, animal shelters, and religious structures. They also received much protection during attacks.
9. Umm Qais, Jordan
Umm Qais is an ancient Greco-Roman city located in the hilly woodlands of olive, fig, and pistachio trees in the far northern part of Jordan. It provides a magnificent panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, and Mount Hermon. Visit expansive archaeological sites situated on different terrains, such as hills.
10. Mahra Desert, Yemen
Despite being one of the largest and least explored deserts, it is situated in eastern Yemen and southern Oman. Today, the Mahra province is home to the largest oil resources in southern Arabia, and yet this region has not experienced any modernization or conflicts in recent years. Wildlife is still present in the area referred to as the “sand mountains.”
In conclusion, there are still a number of hidden places to explore in Middle East that tourists have yet to discover. While conflict has recently isolated Yemen, another desert, ancient cities such as Urfa and Petra, and remote corners in Oman and Iran still hold the mystery. Few corners of the world have such potential for the visitor who seeks to follow the less well-trodden path.













